ITALY NEWS

Black-listed

Jews targeted by racist blog

(issue no. 73/2008 / February 21, 2008)

Italian police recently discovered an anti-Semitic Internet blog, which posted a ‘black list’ of 162 Jewish university professors in Italy alleged to have created a lobby. The faculty members are employed at Rome’s La Sapienza university and universities in other Italian cities.

The Rome Jewish Community filed an official complaint and Italy’s political world expressed concern over the alarming incident. La Sapienza chancellor Renato Guarini also issued a statement condemning the ‘extremely serious initiative by people who, using an Internet blog, have committed an unacceptable act of intolerance Anti-Semitism and any and all forms of racial and cultural discrimination are the exact opposite of this university’s mission and principles,’ he said.

One of those on the list was Anna Foa, a professor of modern history at La Sapienza, who stated, ‘We are dealing with a very disturbing incident. Those responsible for this insane initiative have committed a crime and must be punished. We are on the borderline of madness. A list of names, together with anti-Semitic slogans, represents an evolution which is truly frightening’.

Police are investigating Paolo Munzi, a resident of the central Italian city of Rieti, for posting the blog. According to reports, Munzi is not cooperating with police.